Homegrown NY Mets stars hold key stats for must win season finale

The New York Mets are down to their final spin of the wheel, and the jackpot isn’t guaranteed. Saturday’s win over the Marlins kept the lights on, but the math is cruel: one more victory paired with a Reds stumble is the only ticket to October. It’s the kind of razor’s edge finale that demands not just talent, but the steady hands of players who know the stage.

Enter Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso, the Mets’ longest-tenured stars and the only ones left with the scars and mileage to prove it. Both have a history with Edward Cabrera, Miami’s Sunday starter, and both have turned that history into production. Others will need to step up, of course, but it often starts with the leaders out front. Tomorrow, it’s Nimmo and Alonso who can light the fuse and let the rest of the lineup catch fire.

Mets season finale hinges on veteran firepower from Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso

When the Mets face Edward Cabrera on Sunday, it won’t just be another start—it’s a familiar battleground for Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso. Alonso has dominated Cabrera in their matchups, hitting .294 with a 1.252 OPS, three homers, and five RBIs. Nimmo’s numbers are even sharper in his limited opportunities: a .357 average, a .571 OBP, and a perfect 1.000 OPS over 14 at-bats. Experience clearly counts when October looms.

Nimmo has played 1,065 games as a Met, Alonso 1,007—the longest-tenured players on this roster. That longevity isn’t about records; it’s about knowing how to lead, spark momentum, and set a tone for the team when every at-bat matters. Against Cabrera, their value isn’t just in production, it’s in giving the rest of the lineup something to chase.

Saturday offered the perfect preview. Alonso went 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs, and two runs scored, helping the Mets edge past the Marlins. But it wasn’t just his stats that mattered. During the game, he sported Juan Soto’s socks, Lindor’s eye black, and even dabbed Nimmo’s lotion—a Halloween-inspired concoction of good vibes. Combined with his teammates’ energy, it created a Frankenstein monster on the field, one that the Mets will need him to conjure again on Sunday.

Nimmo and Alonso are the spark the Mets can ignite. Lindor, Soto, and the rest of the lineup will feed off that energy if they follow, but tomorrow these two veterans could single-handedly tip the scales. Against Cabrera, their timing, savvy, and spark could turn one last showdown into a playoff-clinching moment, with some help from Milwaukee.